Center frame, a Blue-winged Warbler perched facing left is stretching out to an apple blossom in search of some insects hidden within. According to Allaboutbirds.org, Blue-winged Warblers are small, well-proportioned birds with a sharp and pointed bill. Compared to other warblers, the rather heavy black bill and eyeline give them a pointy-headed look.

Happy #FeatheredFriday friends. This Blue-winged warbler from spring is sending out a reminder to take time and smell the flowers. Doing so may help give you some rest against our turbulent times (or like me, sneeze 😜). #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Center frame, two Snowy Egrets are standing in shallow water. The bird in the background had just tried to catch something so their wings are raised, and water is splashing off their long black, dagger like beak. The one in the foreground is seemingly watching the action.

Happy Thursday friends... was nice to find a pair of Snowy Egrets hanging out together at Howard Marsh Metropark in Curtice, OH. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #SnowyEgrets

Two birds are featured in photograph. Larger bird center right, with wings extended into the air forming a "V" is facing forward, with their head turned to the left centering their attention on a much smaller bird to the left. The Lesser Yellowlegs also have their wings raised above their head in a V as if about to take flight. The smaller bird is facing right looking right. Both are standing in shallow water with a few grasses in the foreground.

Happy mid-week friends... a quick reminder: no one is safe in the marsh if a parent Black-necked Stilt deems you too close to their young--even if said young are on the other side of the pond. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #Naturephotography #BlackneckedStilts #LesserYellowlegs

Center right of frame, a male Indigo Bunting is perched on a leafless branch, facing forward, looking right. From Allaboutbirds.org., Indigo Buntings are small (roughly sparrow-sized), stocky birds with short tails and short, thick, conical bills. In flight, the birds appear plump with short, rounded tails.

Happy Tuesday friends... In between being dinner for the Deerflies and mosquitos, this Indigo Bunting stopped by for a brief visit, before darting off to catch some of my predators. Possibly my best photo of this species so far. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #IndigoBuntings

Centr frame, a Black-billed Cuckoo sits on small tree branches surrounded by leaves, facing left, looking left. They are slender birds, brown on top, white below with a long tail. They possess a curved black beak and have red eye-rings.

Happy new week friends... on a Tram ride provided by "Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge", we found two Black-billed Cuckoos in the back corner of their property. So fun to see! #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #OttawaCounty #BlackbilledCuckoo

Center frame, the nearly all black Eastern Kingbird, their back to viewer is perched atop a beautiful pink, Marsh Mallow hibiscus plant, looking right, keeping a keen eye on nearby bugs. If you look closely at their flailed tail, you can see the white match-tip outline on the end of the tail.

Happy Sunday friends... Did you know black is this year's pink? Caught this Eastern Kingbird perched atop Marsh Mallow Hibiscus Saturday. I'm always surprised how "light" these birds are to perch atop a flower head. #birds #Ohbirding #Ottawacounty #wildlife #naturephotography

Sitting atop a phragmites head, a (male) Common Yellowthroat warbler is facing right, but looking over their shoulder left. Unmistakable yellow throat with olive green back and wings. Their most identifiable feature after their size is the black mask covering their eyes and a thin white line on their eye brow.

Happy weekend friends... was fun catching this Common Yellowthroat warbler just chilling out atop the phragmites and on occasion singing out their siren song. Cute diminutive bird-more often heard than seen. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #commonyellowthroat #newworldwarbler

Center frame, hiding behind the green grasses is the King Rail, a secretive marsh chicken-like bird, with a long neck, short tail and small head.

Happy #FeatheredFriday friends... had the good fortune to find a King Rail hiding among the grasses at the marsh a few weeks back. A bird not usually seen around here. Nice lifer for me. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Center frame, three Short-billed Dowitchers, graze in marsh shallows. In breeding plumage, Short-billed Dowitchers are orange, brown, and golden shorebirds with long beaks, contrary to their name.

Happy Thursday friends... The second half of migration is underway as the birds who came north in spring have begun meandering south. Thankful I found Short-billed Dowitchers still in breeding plumage at a stopover site. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #shorebirds #dowitchers

Center right of frame, a female black-throated Blue Warbler is facing right looking right on a diagonal leafless tree branch. Olive greenish/gray above, creamy yellow below, with a white patch on her wing. Some females may display a hint of blue on wing feathers as well.

Happy #WarblerWednesday friends... Still processing images taken in May and found the queen of subtle beauty, a female Black-throated Blue--who looks nothing like her male counterpart, save for a white "handkerchief" on her wing. #birds #ohbirding #wildife #naturephotography #NewWorldWarblers

Center left of frame, on leafless branch, sits a male Eastern Bluebird, facing you, looking left. Blue head, warm rusty chest, white below.

Happy new week friends... had an appointment in Columbus a few weeks ago giving me an opportunity to "bird" in Sharon Woods Metropark. I was welcomed by this beauty at the trail head. Gotta love Eastern Bluebirds. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #easternbluebirds

Center right of frame, the Great Blue Heron, the largest of all herons, sits upon a dead log, jutting out over the spillway. Facing right and looking left, the bird stands about 4 feet tall with a blue crown, white face, giving way to a grayish-blue body overall with a long orange colored dagger like bill.

Happy Sunday friends... I used to say, "I would happily photograph Great Blue Heron's all day long, if someone paid me to." Then I realized, no payment was necessary. They are reward enough. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #GreatBlueHerons

Center of photo on a dead diagonal branch sits three Purple Martins, two fledglings and one adult. The center bird, a fledgling, holds their beak wide open, hoping the parent, just to the right will implant the insect caught between its beak, into theirs. To the left is another fledgling disappointed their sibling is being fed instead of them.

Happy Saturday friends... had the good fortune to find some Purple Martin fledglings being fed by parents #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #OttawaCounty

Center right in frame, a female Northern Cardinal, sits on a diagonal branch, looking and facing right. Orange beak, a tuft of red on her head to match her reddish-brown wings and tail, light brown with blond feathers underneath. A little black around her eyes and chin,

Happy Friday friends... this female Northern Cardinal allowed me to get within a few feet of her for a stunning photo last month. The state bird of OH, I believe she is prettier than male, with her use of undertones to display her brilliance. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Center left of frame, facing left looking left, sitting atop a Northern Bush Honeysuckle while lots of gnats flew around her. Orioles are thick-necked songbirds with long pointed tails. Females vary in plumage, from full yellow to yellow and brownish. All have yellow underbellies and under tails.

Happy Thursday friends... Caught a female Baltimore Oriole taking a break from nest duty, to forage for some yummy bugs. Such a beautiful blonde. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Center left of frame, standing on a rock in the grass, the Spotted Sandpiper is facing and looking right. During breeding season, as seen here, they have dark spots running down their breast and an orange beak. Spotted Sandpipers are identified outside breeding season by their unique tail bobbing as they walk.

Happy midweek friends... Was lucky to find three Spotted Sandpipers hanging around a retention pond, but not lucky enough to get all three in one shot. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Center right of frame, a Gray Catbird (a medium thrush like bird with a long tail, gray body with dark crown) is perched in a Mulberry bush, sitting and looking to the right--as if perusing the crop.

Happy Tuesday friends... Found this nice Gray Catbird looking inconspicuous in a Mulberry bush. They were a good sport posing for me. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Center frame, a male House finch sits at the end of a branch looking curiously back towards viewer. Perched right. According to Allaboutbirds.org House Finches are small-bodied finches with fairly large beaks and somewhat long, flat heads. The wings are short, making the tail seem long by comparison. Many finches have distinctly notched tails, but the House Finch has a relatively shallow notch in its tail. Even though all of eastern North America’s House Finches are descended from the same few birds released on Long Island (meaning they’re much more closely related to each other than they are to birds across the West), there aren’t any strong differences in size, shape, or color between the two regions.

Happy Monday friends, the invasive House Finch loves to come to my feeder...good thing they're so darn cute. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotgraphy

Center frame stands an adult Green Heron surrounded by four of her five chicks. The parent was using this moment to pull the chicks closer to the nest from the surrounding branches and out of a potential harm's way.

Happy Sunday friends... Took another trip out to see the Green Heron nest, exactly one week later and could not believe how fast these little ones have grown, #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #MageeMarsh #Lucascounty

Center frame, a Blue jay sits on a lower branch looking left with their beak ajar. Perhaps as if caught in mid-sentence. A white front, Blue with black highlight back and a blue crown.

Happy July 4th friends here to help celebrate is a native American, loud, brash, sometimes a bully, most times a protective warning system and impersonator. Yes, the Blue Jay shares similar qualities w/other inhabitants--but are much cuter by comparison. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturphotography

Center right of frame, a male Yellow warbler is perched on a branch facing right, looking left with a mouthful of May (Midge) flies.

Happy Thursday friends... off the political soapbox for now, enjoy this beautiful male Yellow Warbler bringing out hunting for his brood... Midge season is the best season. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #YellowWarbler

Adult Canada Goose from neck up middle frame sticking their tongue out at viewer.

Happy midweek friends... I think this Canada Goose sums up my feelings about our transfer from The United States of America to the United States of Trump. A land where income is only possible for the top and the rest of us grovel for crumbs. #birds #ohbirding #naturephotography #wildlife

Three Sandhill cranes (tall heavy bodied birds) walking in a line across the center of photo. The Colt, in the middle, is light rusty brown, while the parents on either end, are gray with a red crown.

Happy Tuesday friends... After work last Wednesday, I stopped by a nature preserve and happily ran into this Sandhill Crane family walking/hunting across the field. Always great seeing a colt with parents. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #IrwinPrairie #SandhillCranes

Center of photo, a pair of Green-winged Teals push through the grasses and reflected images on the water. The male leads with his cinnamon-colored head and green crescent that extends from his eyes to the back of his head. The female following is brown with a cream-colored strip at the rear, like the males. In flight, both birds have a green patch on wings helping with identification. They are the smallest of the dabbling ducks.

Happy New week friends... Was happily surprised to find a pair of Green-winged Teals still hanging around. Upon further research, I found a small number do in fact breed here. Nice way to discover new information. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #waterfowl #HowardMarshWest

Upper center, a Swamp sparrow perched on an extended limb, facing left in an upright position, mouth open in song. Swamp Sparrow is a chunky, medium sized sparrow with a rusty red crown with a dark line through the eyes, a gray face and nape and reddish-brown wings. Also, the base of their beak is yellow.

Happy Sunday friends... a bird I routinely hear yet seldom see in the marshy wetlands is the Swamp Sparrow. Color me surprised when one, fresh from a bath chose to preen and prune and then resumed singing from the bush right next to me. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #sparrows

Center frame facing right, a Common Grackle, large black bird with royal blue head, has at least eight Mayfly's in its beak as it searches for more, and one attached to their shoulder.

Happy #FeatheredFriday friends. The annual Mayfly emergence is in full swing here and as such, I caught this Common Crackle grabbing as many as they could as they jumped from branch to branch. One even landed on the bird. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Parent Green Heron placing a small fish into one of their five chicks mouth; all center frame. The parent has a deep green crown and back and chestnut brown chest, yellow legs. The chicks are all whitish fuzz balls, with a little green feathering showing on their wings. If you zoom in, a smaller chick in very center facing you has a "WTH" look on their face as if to say, "Our older siblings always hog the food".

Happy Thursday friends... Missed seeing both Green Heron parents on the nest together for a complete family portrait by nanoseconds. But who am I to complain when I got this as a great replacement. Fun watching them compete to be fed. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotgraphy

Center left of frame, the brown, nondescript bird known as a Northern House Wren is perched upon a barren tree branch of a dead tree; facing left, looking into the distance. This insectivore can be found in backyards across the US during summer and found by their effervescent voice. They'll nest in just about anything including door wreaths.

Happy midweek friends, or as I like to say #Wrensday, considering this Northern House Wren made a point of interacting with me last Saturday. Maybe he was warning me about the many bug bites I would come home with or maybe it wasn't about me at all... 😀 #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography

Perched atop a thistle, center frame facing right, looking left; is an Eastern Meadowlark. A chunky grassland bird with yellow throat and chest, interrupted by a large "V" necklace which resembles a black bib, with streaky brown feathers on back to tail.

Happy Tuesday friends... Another grassland bird I found Saturday was a pair of Eastern Meadowlark's, though only one agreed to be photographed. Gotta love that bib necklace! #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotgraphy

Center frame, a Dickcissel is perched upon a decaying Thistle, looking right. Named for the song they make, the Dickcissel male (as pictured) has a V on the throat with a yellow breast with a rusty colored back.

Happy new week friends and boy is it a hot one! Found some Dick over the weekend, that is, Dickcissels. A beautiful grassland bird with a "bowtie" neckline. Love these fellows. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography